Almost Worn Out - but Still Operational

Last week, I identified a site overrun with meadow browns and small heaths and resolved to return once the Big Butterfly Count had begun. What a difference a week makes. Most of the meadow browns were on their last legs (not literally).

They were looking really tattered (but not so the small heaths that must have been more recently emerged - only one of those showed any damage).

It is a tribute to 'intelligent design' / 'natural selection' that so much redundancy has been built into the design of this butterfly's wing. Even with nearly half of its wings missing, it was still able to fly without any obvious hindrance. In fact I only managed 2 shots before it flew off once more. I photographed at least four individuals in a sorry state of disrepair.

My apologies for posting a blip tonight based on its 'interestingness' rather than its photogenic merits.

In case you are still wondering, this is a meadow brown - Maniola jurtina